Rory Culkin stars in film shot in Riverhead

PAUL SQUIRE PHOTO | Film crews work a staging area outside an Ostrander Avenue home in Riverhead Tuesday morning.

An independent film starring Rory Culkin, the brother of child star Macaulay Culkin, is filming in Riverhead this week.

Rory Culkin

“Gabriel” is about a teenager, played by Mr. Culkin, who goes on a journey to find his first love, said producer Allison Carter. Crews began filming at an Ostrander Avenue house Monday and were continuing the shoot Tuesday morning.

The building is supposed to contain the Connecticut college apartment of the protagonist’s former flame, Ms. Carter explained.

“He comes to her apartment during winter break hoping to find her here,” she said.

The film, which is directed and written by Lou Howe, has been shooting across the tri-state area in New York City, Montauk, Connecticut and Sag Harbor over the past few months, Ms. Carter said. The shoot in Riverhead should wrap up Tuesday afternoon.

Ms. Carter said most of the crew isn’t from the area, but they have been enjoying their stay on the North Fork.

“The community is great,” she said. “Everyone has kind of welcomed us.”

The movie is the latest in a series of television series and films to shoot in the Riverhead area. Last year, the Coen Brothers filmed two scenes for their latest movie “Inside Llewyn Davis” at two properties in Riverhead. That film, set in the 1960s and featuring big-name Hollywood talent such as John Goodman of the “Big Lebowski” and Justin Timberlake of “The Social Network,” is due to be released later this year.

In March, another independent film, “El Cielo Es Azul” (The Sky is Blue), held movie shoots at several locations in Riverhead, including Cody’s BBQ and Grill and in September, a fishing show called “Lunkerville” shot scenes in Riverhead and Southold towns.

An upcoming television series also filmed at the A Cut Above hair salon in Aquebogue in October.

The HBO crime drama “Boardwalk Empire” shot scenes at a Calverton farm in 2011 for their season finale, and HBO’s “The Sopranos” filmed in Riverhead twice several years ago.

“Gabriel” will continue shooting over the next few months and is expected to be released in 2014.